Whirl-about toy

ABSTRACT

A toy which includes a frame member having a suspension point at one end thereof and a balance point at the other end thereof facing said suspension point with the balance point, suspension point and center of gravity of the frame member falling on a common straight line so that objects can be balanced on the balance point and the frame member can be spun about the suspension point without upsetting the balanced condition of the objects. A rod of small diameter is supported on the frame member so as to extend the balance point along the common straight line toward the suspension point. The rod has its end face lying in a plane perpendicular to the common straight line and a cup-shape member is disposed on the frame member in surrounding relationship to the rod.

United States Patent 1 91 Kuney -[541 WHIRL-ABOUT TOY [76] lnventorz George Clark Kuney, 811 B Seventeenth St. N., St. Petersburg,

Fla. 33704 [22] Filed: June 23, 1972 211 Appl. No.: 265,510

[52] US. Cl. 27 3/1 R, 46/51 [51] Int. Cl A63h 1/32 [58] Field of Search 273/1 R; 46/51, 52

[56] References Cited I UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,807,365 5/1931 Wood 46/51 X 3,015,908 l/l962 Colletti 46/52 3,106,039 10/1963 Simpson 273/1 R X 3,130,517 4/1964 Green 46/51 3,484,985 12/1969 Castell 273/1 RX FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 17,397 12/1909 Great Britain 46/52 OTHER PUBLICATIONS Seventeen Magazine, August, 1966, Page 276, article 1]- 3,829,087 51 Aug. 13, 1974 Hang On To Hangers Primary ExaminerRichard C. Pinkham' Assistant ExaminerPau1 E. Shapiro Attorney, Agent, or FirmCraig & Antonelli [57] ABSTRACT A toy which includes a frame member having a suster is supported on the frame member so as to extend the balance point along the common straight line toward the suspension point. The rod has its end face lying in a plane perpendicular to the common straight line and a cup-shape member is disposed on the frame I member in surrounding relationship to the rod.

9 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PAIENIED AUG 1 23,29,087

saw 1 OF 2 WHlRL-ABOUT TOY The present invention relates in general to toys, and more particularly to a toy of the whirling and spinning type which is spun about a suspension point while balancing one or more objects on an outer balancing point thereof.

As is well known, if an object is rotated at a distance about a fixed point at a given speed, a radially outward (centrifugal) force will be impressed upon the object, the magnitude of the force being dependent upon the speed of rotation of the object and the mass thereof. In accordance with the present invention, this centrifugal force is utilized to balance one or more objects on a fine balancing point while the objects are rotated about a pivot or point of suspension.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a toy which tests the ability of one to balance objects and smoothly spin or rotate these objects about a suspension or pivot point in such a way as to retain the balanced condition of the objects during such rotation.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a toy which is capable of testing the skill and dexterity of the user in simultaneously balancing and spinning a plurality of objects on a fine balancing point.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a toy of the typedescribed which is simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, and therefore durable and relatively simple to understand.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be disclosed more fully in the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate several embodiments of the present invention, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal view partly in sectionof one embodiment of the toy constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top sectional view taken along line [1-1] of FIG. 1; v

FIG. 3 is a detailed view of one element of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal view of a second embodiment of the present invention wherein the support frame member has a nonsymmetrical configuration;

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal view of a further embodiment of the present invention wherein the support frame member has a nonsymmetrical configuration;

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal view of still a further embodiment of the present invention wherein the support frame member has a symmetrical configuration;

FIG. 7 is a side view of still a further embodiment of the present invention; and v FIG. 8 is a top plan view of a'portion of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7.

Similar elements have been designated in the respective figures of the drawing by corresponding reference numerals whereever possible so as to more clearly illustrate the correspondence between the respective embodiments of the present invention.

Referring first to FIGS. 1 3, the present invention comprises a frame member 10, preferably of one-piece construction, formed by a generally V-sh'aped upper portion 12 and an arcuate lower portion 14. This frame member may be made of sheet plastic material hav ing the inner and outer edges beveled to provide smooth contours throughout, but it also may be suitably made from other light-weight, durable materials, such as metal, wood, heavy cardboard, etc.

The inside surface portion 16 formed at the junction of the two legs of the V-shaped upper portion 12 of the frame member 10 provides a point of suspension for the frame member. In this regard, it will be noted from FIG. 1 that the frame member 10 is symmetrical about an axis 1 which passes through the center of this surface portion 16 forrning the point of suspension. The frame member 10 is additionally provided with a circular portion 18 having a substantially central aperture 20 whose center also falls on or near the axis of symmetry 1 of the frame member 10.

A rod or pin 22 of small diameter is embedded in, or otherwise supported on, the arcuate portion 14 of the frame member 10 so as to be disposed in alignment with the axis of symmetry 1 and extends inwardly in the direction of the point of suspension 16. This rod or pin may be made of any suitable material, such as plastic, metal, wood or other rigid material.

In using the toy illustrated in FIGS. 1 3, the frame member 10 is suspended from a persons finger, or from a mechanical support, either at suspension point 16 or the aperture 20 in the circular portion 18 so that the pin or rod 22 is disposed vertically. In this regard, it will be noted that due to the symmetrical configuration of the frame member 10, the center of gravity thereof will be located on the axis of symmetry 1, which passes through the suspension point 16, the center of circle. 20 and through the longitudinal axis of the rod or pin 22. Thus, suspension of the frame support member from the point 16 or by means of the aperture 20 will ensure the vertical orientation of the pin or rod 22. One or a plurality of objects 25 are then balanced on the end of the pin or rod 22, and by movement of the finger supporting the frame member 10 with a generally circular motion, the frame support member along with the balanced objects 25 are rotated about the suspension point.

With rotation of the frame member 10, a centrifugal force will be exerted on the balanced objects 25 in an outward direction so as to press the objects against the end of the rod or pin 22 thereby maintaining'the objects in a fixed position on the end of the rod in spite of the movement thereof through a circular path as the frame member is continuously rotated. Of course, the more objects that are balanced upon the rod or pin 22, the more difficult it is to initially balance the objects and subsequently to provide the necessary smooth rotation of the frame member tomain'tain these objects in the balanced condition as they are rotated. Thus, the toy requires skill and precise movements on the part of the person using it, which provides enjoyment and excitement.

Any objects which may be balanced on a fine point may be used with the present invention. Discs such as coins of U.S. currency are particularly suitable, as well an angular disposition with respect to the axis 1 so long as the end thereof lies on this axis. In addition, if the rod or pin 22 is angularly disposed, it is preferable that the end surface thereof be disposed so as to lie in a plane transverse to the axis 1 to facilitate the balancing of objects thereon as the frame member 10 is suspended.

As a further feature of the present invention, a cupshaped member 30 may be provided in surrounding relationship to the pin or rod 22 to serve as a means for catching the objects should the balanced condition thereof be disrupted while the frame member is being rotated. The cup-shaped member 30 is provided with a pair of support legs 31 and 32, as seen in FIG. 3, and a hole 34 through which the rod or pin 22 extends. The legs 31 and 32 are spaced by a distance approximately equal to the width of the support frame member so that the cup-shaped member 30 is maintained in proper position on the frame member 10 by the frictional engagement of the legs 31 and 32 with the arcuate portion 14 thereof. The extension of the pin or rod 22 through the aperture 34 of the cup-shaped member 30 also serves to maintain the proper orientation of the member with respect to the frame member.

As will be understood, if the objects 25 become unbalanced during the course of rotation of the frame member 10, centrifugal force will cause them to fly radially outward with a force dependent upon the speed of rotation and the mass of the objects. Thus, in order to avoid loss of the objects or damage to surrounding objects should the objects become unbalanced during the operation of the toy, the cup-shaped member 30 is disposed in a location on the support frame member to catch the falling objects and thereby prevent them from flying outward.

As indicated above, in order to provide a proper balancing of the objects on the end of the pin or rod 22 prior to rotation of the support frame member, it is preferable that the axis 1 which passes through the balance point at the 'end of the rod 22 be initially maintained with a vertical orientation as the objects are stacked on the rod. For this purpose, it is not essential that the frame member be symmetrical in configuration so long "as the center of gravity thereof falls substantially on the line which extends from the balance point at the end of pin 22 through the suspension point of the frame member. As examples of sucha non-symmetrical construction for the frame member, FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of the present invention wherein the frame member 10 has an S-shaped configuration and FIG. illustrates an embodiment of the invention wherein the frame member is formed of a plurality of interconnected linear sections and an upper arcuate section forming the suspension point. In each of these embodiments, the balance pin or rod 22 extends along the straight line which passes through the suspension point of the frame member and the center of gravity of the frame member also lies on this straight line.

In the embodiment of FIG. 4, the frame member 10 is formed as a one-piece member including an upper arcuate portion 38 and a lower arcuate portion 40, both of equal size. At the free end of the upper arcuate portion 38 there is provided a cut-out 39, which forms the suspension area or point for the frame member; while, the lower arcuate portion 40 carries the balance rod or pin 22. The straight line through the rod or pin 22 passes through the center of the cut-out portion 39.

In the embodiment of FIG. 5, the frame member 10 is formed by an upper arcuate portion 42 whose inner radius forms the suspension surface 43 for the frame member. The linear portions 44, 45, 46 and 47 extend from one end of the arcuate portion 42 to form the irregularly shaped, one-piece frame member. As in the previous embodiments, the steel rod which is embedded in the linear portion 47 of the frame member is disposed so as to extend along the straight line which passes through the center of the inner radius of the suspension surface 43 of the upper arcuate portion 42. The length of the linear portion 47 is determined so as to cause the center of gravity of the frame member to fall on the straight line extending through the balance rod or pin'22.

A further embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 6 wherein the frame member has a figure eight configuration'with the balance rod or pin 22 being disposed in the lower circular portion 50 thereof and an arcuate cut-out portion being disposed in the upper circular portion 52 thereof. Once again, the balance pin or rod 22 extends along a straight line which passes through the center of the suspension surface 53 of the arcuate cut-out and the symmetrical configuration of the frame member ensures that the center of gravity thereof will fall on this straight line. I

The embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate the fact that the invention is not restricted to the use of a rigid frame member. In this embodiment, a support platform 60, which is illustrated as having a generally circular configuration, but may be of any desired shape and also may be cupshaped rather than flat, has a balance pin or rod 22 disposed in a generally central portion thereof extending perpendicularly to thesupport platform. The support platform is provided with a plurality of holes 62 through which strings are passed and knotted so as to provide a suspension of the support platform 60 therefrom. Inthe illustrated example, four strings 65 are used to support the platform 60, which strings are knotted together or otherwise joined or interconnected to form a pyramidal support'arrangement with a single string or other grasping means extending from the junction of the four strings. By grasping the single outwardly extending string, the support platform with the balance pin or rod 22 thereon may be rotated in a circle much in the same way as the frame member 10 in the other embodiments of the invention. If the length of the strings between the support platform and the knot which joins the four strings is the same for all strings,

, the platform 60 may be suspended in a horizontal position so that the rod or pin 22 is vertical. This enables the balancing of the objects on the end of the rod prior to rotation of the entire frame member with the balanced objects thereon. If the strings are of different length, the support platform 60 will hang at an angle to ported on the surface of the platform 60 by a suitable adhesive 68 which binds the rod to the platform and ensures its proper location and disposition with respect thereto. While the platform 60 is illustrated as suspended from strings 65, wires or even rigid rods may also be used without departing from the spirit of the present invention, as will be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art.

While I have shown and described several embodiments in accordance with the present invention, it is understood that the same is not limited thereto but is susceptible of numerous changes and modifications as known to a person skilled in the art, and I therefore do not wish to limit the present invention to the details shown and described herein, but intend to cover all such changes and modifications as are obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art.

What is claimed is:

1. A toy comprising a frame having a suspension point at one end thereof and a balance point at the other end thereof facing said suspension point, said suspension point and said balance point as well as the center of gravity of said frame all being substantially located on a common straight line, and a rod of small diameter supported on said frame so as to extend said balance point on said common straight line toward said suspension point, said rod having its end face lying in a plane perpendicular to said common straight line, wherein a cup-shaped member is disposed on said frame in surrounding relationship to said rod, said rod being substantially coextensive with the axis of symmetry of said cup-shaped member.

2. A toy as defined in claim l wherein said frame has an S-shaped configuration.

3. A toy as defined in claim 1 wherein said frame has a figure eight configuration.

4. A toy as defined in claim 1 wherein said frame has a non-symmetrical configuration.

5. A toy as defined in claim 1 wherein said frame is made as a one-piece member and includes a substantially V-shaped portion and an arcuate portion joined to the free ends of the legs of said V-shaped portion, said suspension point being located at the inside surface of the junction of the legs of said V-shaped portion and the balance point being located at the center of said arcuate portion.

6. A toy as defined in claim 5 wherein said V-shaped portion of said frame is provided with an aperture having its center on said common straight line and being disposed on the same side of said balance point as said suspension point.

7. A toy as defined in claim 1 wherein said balance point is located within an arcuate cut-out portion of said frame.

8. A toy as defined in claim 1 wherein said frame comprises a support having said balance point located on one surface thereof and a plurality of flexible suspension members secured together at one end thereof and to said support at the other end thereof.

9. A toy as defined in claim 8 wherein said suspension members are provided in the form of strings. 

1. A toy comprising a frame having a suspension point at one end thereof and a balance point at the other end thereof facing said suspension point, said suspension point and said balance point as well as the center of gravity of said frame all being substantially located on a common straight line, and a rod of small diameter supported on said frame so as to extend said balance point on said common straight line toward said suspension point, said rod having its end face lying in a plane perpendicular to said common straight line, wherein a cup-shaped member is disposed on said frame in surrounding relationship to said rod, said rod being substantially coextensive with the axis of symmetry of said cup-shaped member.
 2. A toy as defined in claim 1 wherein said frame has an S-shaped configuration.
 3. A toy as defined in claim 1 wherein said frame has a figure eight configuration.
 4. A toy as defined in claim 1 wherein said frame has a non-symmetrical configuration.
 5. A toy as defined in claim 1 wherein said frame is made as a one-piece member and includes a substantially V-shaped portion and an arcuate portion joined to the free ends of the legs of said V-shaped portion, said suspension point being located at the inside surface of the junction of the legs of said V-shaped portion and the balance point being located at the center of said arcuate portion.
 6. A toy as defined in claim 5 wherein said V-shaped portion of said frame is provided with an aperture having its center on said common straight line and being disposed on the same side of said balance point as said suspension point.
 7. A toy as defined in claim 1 wherein said balance point is located within an arcuate cut-out portion of said frame.
 8. A toy as defined in claim 1 wherein said frame comprises a support having said balance point located on one surface thereof and a plurality of flexible suspension members secured together at one end thereof and to said support at the other end thereof.
 9. A toy as defined in claim 8 wherein said suspension members are provided in the form of strings. 